Sad stories from RV travelers....

Topic: Sad stories from RV travelers.... (Read 2351 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Sad stories from RV travelers....

Reply #25 – February 11, 2018, 07:30:19 pm

Lots of familiar stories here. Last year we didn't "work" at all. We did have several months of volunteering for free camping. We should have some work this year and we have 3 months of hosting scheduled.

Re: Sad stories from RV travelers....

Reply #26 – February 11, 2018, 07:44:35 pm

Interesting thread. "Work" is an Anathema to some.

Us older mid west value raised people seem to have a vastly different sense of values.

We decided as a new 33/22 year old couple to play hard every possible time we could. Money and security later if ever.

Dirt biked! Skied, water crafted 1,000 days plus.

20 years later DW opened her own biz. 23 years later from original start moved from out rented lake front condo and bought our own house.

We KNEW we could pull it out. Luckily we did.

6 years ago our coach drifted by.

Not a good example or idea for most.

Just have to willing to roll the dice and work hard and smart.

Re: Sad stories from RV travelers....

Reply #27 – February 11, 2018, 10:45:32 pm

Quote from: John Haygarth – February 11, 2018, 04:53:44 pm

What has been mentioned above is really the older generation way of doing things

Hmm, wisdom no longer counts, all you need to know, are internet computer access facts and YouTube. = Epic fail.somebody mentioned tiny homes, just a fad, just like the ultra efficient geodesic dome homes of the 70's etc. No such thing in reality as net zero. Just like a perpetual motion machine. Just a few of bunch of young idealist fresh out of college that have no idea. Long term reality is you can't sell them to 5% of the population.

Re: Sad stories from RV travelers....

Reply #28 – February 12, 2018, 08:13:22 am

Consider that before wwII life expectancy was early 60's. People worked 6-7 days a week without paid vacation or sick leave. They worked to survive. There was no expectancy of a comfortable retirement. You worked and then you died. Fast forward to today where life expectancy is late 70's, early 80's. We have Social security,Medicare, pensions,etc.
Many people through no fault of their own have become obsolete almost overnight. No more high paying jobs for high school grads .You need a skill.what happens to the truck drivers when self driving vehicles hit the road? People who drive for a living make up 10% of the work force. Those jobs will all be gone in a decade. Through no fault of their own they will will be out of work and in most cases lacking skills or education to get another similar paying job. That's the story for most of these people we're seeing. The challenge for our country is what to do with these people. They aren't going away and their numbers are growing.
On a positive note, I'm looking forward to my own retirement in a few months knowing if I end up living in our Foretravel it'll be comfortable and in style.

Re: Sad stories from RV travelers....

Reply #29 – February 12, 2018, 10:13:59 am

To answer a couple of other posts that I read as me not "knowing" what it is like.
I did not include the Politics of the day as I am fed up of seeing many comments deleted just because it does not fit with another's idea or belief, and yet this Forum Post has many undertones directly relating to todays Politics and it is still open???
Amazing achievement in my book.
My Parents had 6 children and not one of us spent time in a university and yet we all have made a decent life out of it and brought children up with the same beliefs. All of us own our homes and even some of the kids now also are debt free due to working and saving. My own Daughter worked 3 jobs at once when she was in her late 'teens and early 20's and never needed any handout.
Blaming the Govt is justifiable many times but the bottom line in my book is what you do as a person is were the difference is.
Yes there are many times people "falling thru the cracks" but that has allways been the case.
JohnH

Re: Sad stories from RV travelers....

Reply #30 – February 12, 2018, 10:45:59 am

I am not sure why I am responding to this as the thread is about RV living with limited financial resources, a culture of nomads and recorded Steinbeck's hard times, and always been so, beyond RVs

I grew up near here in very rural area and also lived in two major cities until I could change. The rural areas of East Texas are not a lot different now than decades ago. There are many, so many, safety nets from government, charities and religions now versus decades ago. But the conditions remain very similar.....

It is sad to see many living in conditions that seem very difficult. Not far from town, some in areas of town. See backroads. Shelters of deteriorating houses or mobile homes, surrounded by discarded materials, little caring of things or "pets". Some of these do wonderful jobs of raising decent children and do so in harsh, by my standards, conditions. But many just exist, know little different and perpetuate the cycle. Drugs and low wages are cited, add in the inability or inattention to teaching their children spills into our schools. The conditions remain but from times of my youth seems worse

My only point in commenting...it is sad, wish I could help more, and is urban and rural, all types of shelters, seems expanding.

Re: Sad stories from RV travelers....

Reply #31 – February 12, 2018, 10:58:03 am

Drove to San Diego a few years back when my son was stationed there,the downtown area was full of these licensed beggers or
whatever you want to call them,looked to me like they were making a good buck for sitting just holding their signs.

Re: Sad stories from RV travelers....

Reply #32 – February 12, 2018, 11:18:46 am

Life is like walking down a long road. Every time you come to a fork in the road, you go one way, or you go the other way. Some individuals make the decision - which way to go - for themselves. Some have the decision made for them by others. Some believe that the direction we will go is preordained - others believe it is totally random. Sometimes circumstances force you to go one way or the other. Other times, we just drift idly through life and "go with the flow".

When I see those less fortunate than myself, I try not to judge them. I think "If one time in my life, I had taken the other fork, that could be me".

Re: Sad stories from RV travelers....

Reply #33 – February 12, 2018, 11:34:33 am

Quote from: goldbehen – February 12, 2018, 08:13:22 am

Fast forward to today where life expectancy is late '70s, early '80s. We have Social security, Medicare, pensions,etc.
Many people through no fault of their own have become obsolete almost overnight. No more high paying jobs for high school grads .You need a skill.what happens to the truck drivers when self driving vehicles hit the road? People who drive for a living make up 10% of the work force. Those jobs will all be gone in a decade. Through no fault of their own they will will be out of work and in most cases lacking skills or education to get another similar paying job. That's the story for most of these people we're seeing. The challenge for our country is what to do with these people. They aren't going away and their numbers are growing.

I mostly agree with you. There are still millions that never paid into Social Security, like firefighters that started in the 1960's, teachers, etc. I never paid into SS along with my fellow firefighters as health care was cheap then. We were all on the CHP (Highway Patrol) plan and it seemed all we needed. So, as I said earlier, I had to wait until my wife filed for her SS at 62. Now I pay about $140 for Medicare and a couple hundred more for my secondary each month. I recently had a hip replacement and right before that, a triple laminectomy. Both were very successful but it cost almost a quarter of a million. Thanks to my insurance, it was totally paid for.

Where would I be today if I hadn't finally qualified for Medicare? Unfortunately, just like millions of others, I would have gone broke.

Yes, I have my pension but many states have pension plans that are under funded with some totally out of money in just a very few years. As mentioned in an above post, others like pilots, have seen their pensions either cut or disappeared. When my city became self insured, they gave everyone physicals. 14 members had a small medical problem and were terminated with only a tiny disability pension as they only had a few years on the job.

Outsourcing and robotics have eliminated many jobs. Apple is bringing back a iPhone factory from China but robotics will mean very few jobs will be created here. Europe and Asia have outsourced some of their auto manufacturing to the U.S. but in right to work states, the starting salary may be as low as $13/hr.

Without apprenticeship programs and technical schools for all those who don't go on to the university, a job at a big box store may be the only alternative. If you do go to a university but don't pick a high demand major, you still have to take out college loans and may find that no only is it difficult to get a job, but when you do, it won't pay well and paying back the loans may be impossible.

Perhaps part of the solution to cut the cost of an education is to eliminate the sports programs as European universities do. Sports are after school activities and not paid for as part of the free education. How can the taxpayer be expected to foot the multi-million salary of some football coaches?

How about the F-35 multi-trillion dollar fighter fiasco? Yes, multi-trillion when all is considered. It would have cost a tiny fraction for Grumman or GD to team up with Sukhoi to build an aircraft that not only works but does the job.

John, I see what you are saying but the times and opportunities have really changed here. What was true a few years back, no longer exists or in more limited way. Our unemployment rate has dropped to what is considered to be full employment now but many of the jobs available for young people don't have much of a future and don't pay or offer benefits to be able to live much more than a survival lifestyle.

Yes, stressful times. Hope we can see some positive changes in the near future, if not for us, for our children.

How about trickle up economics?

Pierce

Re: Sad stories from RV travelers....

Reply #34 – February 12, 2018, 11:58:12 am

There but for fortune......

Re: Sad stories from RV travelers....

Reply #35 – February 12, 2018, 12:06:03 pm

Quote from: joodyo – February 12, 2018, 11:58:12 am

There but for fortune......

X2.....I've been there and back again!

Re: Sad stories from RV travelers....

Reply #36 – February 12, 2018, 11:26:01 pm

After a long thought process, I am thinking society is lacking a "E" for EFFORT that used to exist, but that's old school thinking.

Re: Sad stories from RV travelers....

Reply #37 – February 13, 2018, 06:21:56 am

It could happen to any of us.

Re: Sad stories from RV travelers....

Reply #38 – February 13, 2018, 10:41:42 pm

Re: Sad stories from RV travelers....

Reply #39 – February 13, 2018, 11:52:21 pm

My Valentine and I looked at 600 parks a year for Woodall's for a few years. When the percentage of Full timers spikes, few overnight sites become available. "Some Seasonals/ Many Seasonals/All Seasonals" were descriptive phrases. Many parks would wither if they depended on Overnighters.

There will always be striations in this market of nomadic travel and stationary living. Whew. I just had to comment, I guess.

I plan to support the places I can park safely, in beauty (or Wal-Mart) for a reasonable amount as long as possible. Everyone keep your tires inflated! Be ready to Floor it.

Re: Sad stories from RV travelers....

Reply #40 – February 14, 2018, 12:22:58 am

Quote from: Old Knucklehead – February 13, 2018, 11:52:21 pm

My Valentine and I looked at 600 parks a year for Woodall's for a few years. When the percentage of Full timers spikes, few overnight sites become available. "Some Seasonals/ Many Seasonals/All Seasonals" were descriptive phrases. Many parks would wither if they depended on Overnighters.

There will always be striations in this market of nomadic travel and stationary living. Whew. I just had to comment, I guess.

I plan to support the places I can park safely, in beauty (or Wal-Mart) for a reasonable amount as long as possible. Everyone keep your tires inflated! Be ready to Floor it.

Wow I had no idea it would be that tough, is it like that at state parks and coe's

Re: Sad stories from RV travelers....

Reply #41 – February 14, 2018, 05:47:26 am

We just heard that Boulder Lake COE north of Shawano, WI about 42 miles is now closed. Seems a nut case bought a small hobby farm on the east side that abuts the Campground, and he has set up a "target range" on his side of the fence, with the bullets going towards the CG.
Seems he is within his rights, so the COE is supposedly going to build a high wall along the lot line to protect campers. In the meantime---no campground. About 159 sites.

Re: Sad stories from RV travelers....

Reply #42 – February 14, 2018, 11:40:22 am

All of these posts, caused me to step back and count my blessing's. Hated school, more into cars.Math was my worst. Orange Coast college didn't work, too close to the beach, got side tracked with girls in bikini's.

The grace of God, and my hot rods, is what saved me. Even when living in my 56 Chevy sedan delivery, because the engine was blown. It always motivated me to work and make money to fix it. I wanted to cruise, wanted to street race.

In the Hippy van days, I fell into having a successful van shop which lasted 18 years. Started it on $35.00 a week unemployment, and a $200.00 loan Then got into RV satellites, which took me to home satellites.Spun it off the Van Shop business. I only worked for someone, last 4 years of my working days.

Thanks for starting this post. Sorry we all got off topic, but did we? I think it touched many hearts. I agree, it could have happened to any of us, and I certainly took some wrong turns on the way at the forks. But I attribute it to 1st, hard work, then belief in one's self that you can do it.

I am not as rich as I would like to be, but richer then I thought I would be. But feeling truley blessed.

56 Chevy circa 1969
Dodge van circa 1973, the van that started it all
Calling card circa 1976

Cheers
Chris

Re: Sad stories from RV travelers....

Reply #43 – February 14, 2018, 12:19:34 pm

Good for you, Chris! Yes, we have lots to be thankful for. I never remember a paycheck but treasure many of life's little victories.

Pierce

Re: Sad stories from RV travelers....

Reply #44 – February 14, 2018, 12:40:38 pm

....oh all right, might as well add my two cents, which is about what it's worth...I think our generation (the one that came after The Greatest Generation, i.e. our parents) was a lot more resourceful, & I think we were 'raised right' with their principles, to work hard, (I started working for other people in the neighborhood at age 9) to earn our own way, to be resourceful, to pull ourselves up by our boot straps, never give up, & to eventually reap the rewards that come from that sense of determination & self sufficiency.

I know I've never depended on anyone except for one husband along the way, (who introduced me to the RV lifestyle 30+ years ago) to take care of my needs...I remember not having a job at 19 & needing one, so I put on my best dress & walked about a mile in high heels (car was in shop) to a local steak house and started working that day as hostess....timing can be everything but it is inevitably what you make of your opportunities.....or those opportunities you create yourself....

I've also heard that you "create your own destiny"....much of it by making the right choices & decisions (high or low road, good or bad deals, etc.) along the way....I could easily have made more poor choices & decisions and ended up as some of these souls....I bought this coach 'cause I learned the value of that hard work, & of buying only quality but at a bargain, having been raised in thrift shops & 2nd hand stores, having been rich once upon a time & then being "poor" in cash but rich in many other ways. Grateful now for that resourcefulness & especially for the lessons of the generation that came before us.

Re: Sad stories from RV travelers....

Reply #45 – February 14, 2018, 02:24:40 pm

Quote from: Miz Dani – February 14, 2018, 12:40:38 pm

....timing can be everything but it is inevitably what you make of your opportunities.....or those opportunities you create yourself....

Great post.....My dear old mom always said:
"A missed opportunity , is a opportunity lost"
And my favorite:
" Attitude, and aptitude, will get you to the altitude"

Re: Sad stories from RV travelers....

Reply #46 – February 14, 2018, 02:30:24 pm

It sounds rather 'sixties', but I've always believed in "following my bliss". I'm sure I've forgotten some that did not last long, but I know I've had seven business cards, tore them up when I got bored or completed what I wanted and moved on. No regrets, what a ride!

Affiliate Notice